Quality of the Governing Temperature Variables in WRF in Relation to Simulation of Primary Biological Aerosols

We have evaluated three prognostic variables in Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, mean daily temperature, daily maximum temperature, and daily minimum temperature using 9 months of model simulations at 36 and 12 km resolution, and compared the results with 1182 observational sites in north and central Europe. The quality of the results is then determined in the context of the governing variables used in crop science, forestry, and aerobiological models. We use the results to simulate the peak of the birch pollen season (aerobiology), growth of barley (crop science), and development of the invasive plant pathogen Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus (the cause of ash-dieback). The results show that the crop and aerobiological models are particularly sensitive to grid resolution and much higher quality is obtained from the 12 km simulations compared to 36 km. The results also show that the summer months have a bias, in particular for maximum and minimum temperatures, and that the low/high bias is clustered in two areas: continental and coastal influenced areas. It is suggested that the use of results from meteorological models as an input into biological models needs particular attention in the quality of the modelled surface data as well as the applied land surface modules

Accessing Meals on Wheels: A qualitative study exploring the experiences of service users and people who refer them to the service

Meals on Wheels (MoWs) provide access to daily meals and social contact to adults with care and support needs.MoWs could be essential for the increasing rates of an ageing population and adults living with complex needs in England, yet many do not know that the service exists. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of MoWs service users, and people who refer them to MoWs (‘referrers’), with accessing and setting up the service in England, and what information would be valued when considering accessing MoWs services.Semi-structured interviews were conducted in May-July 2022 with seven service users and 21 referrers, recruited from four MoWs providers across England. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Participants indicated various pathways into the service, but referrers (family members) were more likely to be the ones enquiring about, and setting up, MoWs for service users. Once an enquiry about MoWs had been made, the service was perceived as straightforward to set up.However, existing preconceptions and stereotypes about the service (e.g. bringing to mind ‘school meals’, aimed solely at older adults) were perceived to act as barriers to accessing MoWs.Information that participants deemed important to have available when deciding on whether to access MoWs related to the meals (e.g. nutritional value, variety, need for any preparation, catering for individual needs), the specific services provided (e.g. wellbeing checks, daily social contact), the reliability and flexibility of delivery, and the cost of services. These findings could inform MoWs providers’ public awareness strategies about MoWs, in order to facilitate referrals to the service for adults with care and support needs

Accessing Meals on Wheels:a qualitative study exploring the experiences of service users and people who refer them to the service

Aims:This study aimed to explore the perceptions of Meals on Wheels service users, and people who refer them to Meals on Wheels (‘referrers’), with accessing and commencing the service in England, the barriers that might hinder service uptake, and what information would be valued when considering accessing the service.Methods:Semi-structured interviews were conducted in May-July 2022 with seven service users and 21 referrers, recruited from four Meals on Wheels providers across England. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results:Participants indicated various pathways into the service, but referrers (family members) were more likely to be the ones enquiring about, and commencing, Meals on Wheels for service users. Once an enquiry about Meals on Wheels had been made, the service was perceived as straightforward to set up. However, existing preconceptions and stereotypes were perceived to act as barriers to accessing Meals on Wheels. Information that participants deemed important to have available when deciding on whether to access Meals on Wheels related to the meals, the specific services provided, the reliability and flexibility of delivery, and the cost of services. Conclusion:These findings could inform Meals on Wheels service providers’ public awareness strategies about Meals on Wheels, in order to facilitate referrals to the service for adults with care and support needs. Patient or Public Contribution: An advisory group of people with lived experience of Meals on Wheels (users of the service and their family referrers) extensively discussed the findings of the research and advised on the implications and future dissemination steps. <br/

‘The service, I could not do without it…’: A qualitative study exploring the significance of Meals on Wheels among service users and people who refer them to the service

Meals on Wheels (MoWs) is a social care service providing daily meals and social contact to adults who need support to live in the community. Considering the rising number of adults who need help with shopping for food and preparing meals in England, MoWs could be essential for these individuals; yet little is known about the experiences of MoWs service users and people who refer them to MoWs (“referrers”), with the service. The aim of this study was to explore different dimensions of the MoWs service from the perspectives of MoWs service users and referrers. Semistructured interviews were conducted in May–July 2022 with seven service users and 21 referrers, recruited from four MoWs providers across England, and analysed thematically. Participants indicated that benefits of the service encompassed the daily provision of a hot, nutritious meal, an informal welfare check, the service’s efficiency and reliability in promoting independent living and reducing pressures on families and carers, and the daily friendly interactions in reducing social isolation. The pandemic was not perceived to have affected participants’ experiences with MoWs but longer interactions between drivers who deliver the meals and service users would be welcomed to reduce isolation further. Despite the cost-of-living crisis and an increase in MoWs prices, participants perceived that MoWs are value-for-money due to the social care benefits derived from the service. The wide range of benefits exerted by MoWs suggests that the service should be recognised as a crucial preventative resource in maintaining the wellbeing and independence of adults with care and support needs and suggests that MoWs forms an essential part of the care package that people with care and support needs receive in England

Further Development of “in field” Tests for Resting Spores of Clubroot and the Development of Control Based on Detection

Oilseed rape (OSR) is widely grown in the UK and has a high economic value for many arable farmers, frequently forming part of cereal rotations. As a member of the Brassica family, OSR is susceptible to the clubroot pathogen (Plasmodiophora brassicae). Once soil has been contaminated, clubroot spores can remain viable for several years causing any subsequent oilseed or vegetable brassica crop to be at risk of infection. With the development of new detection methods based on identifying Plasmodiophora brassicae DNA levels in soils, the presence or absence of clubroot risk can be determined; however, these are limited by the need for processing in a laboratory. The primary aim of this work was to validate a clubroot lateral flow device (LFD) for use in fields by OSR growers, therefore avoiding the need for specialised laboratories. Quantification of spores by lateral flow devices (protocol developed and reported earlier by Kennedy et al, 2013; AHDB Horticulture final report FV349) was tested against a molecular quantification method (quantitative PCR; also validated and reported earlier by Kennedy et al., 2013) to establish whether a commercially viable diagnostic test could be provided for growers. In addition, the effect of oilseed rape cultivar on disease development was investigated through pot-based bioassays, as was the effect of P. brassicae resting spore density on seedling infection levels. An additional objective was to study the effect of clubroot on yields of resistant and susceptible oilseed crops. In a comparison of spore quantification by lateral flow device (LFD) and quantitative PCR, it was found that the LFDs overestimated the number of clubroot spores in soil samples. However, qPCR proved to be a reliable assay after appropriate soil sampling. In the pot-based bioassays, there was increased damage observed on OSR roots at higher soil spore concentrations in both a resistant and a susceptible cultivar; it was notable that galling (at very low levels) was observed during glasshouse trials on the main resistant cultivar of OSR currently used in the UK: cv. Cracker. Of other cultivars tested, a range of disease severity was observed. The relationship between clubroot resting spore density at planting and plant infection at harvest and yield was examined by comparing OSR seed weight from fields with and without clubroot presence. There was a good relationship between the clubroot detection in soil at planting and subsequent infection on plants at harvest (r2 = 0.726). This indicates that clubroot quantification at sowing in soil using a diagnostic test is a good indicator of subsequent plant infection. However, this does not necessarily allow for a determination of likely yield loss for oilseed rape. At sites where clubroot resting spores were detected at planting, there were consistently higher yields where clubroot resistant varieties were used in comparison to clubroot susceptible varieties

Comparison of Vertical Distributions of Prokaryotic Assemblages in the Anoxic Cariaco Basin and Black Sea by Use of Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization

Individual prokaryotic cells from two major anoxic basins, the Cariaco Basin and the Black Sea, were enumerated throughout their water columns using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with the fluorochrome Cy3 or horseradish peroxidase-modified oligonucleotide probes. For both basins, significant differences in total prokaryotic abundance and phylogenetic composition were observed among oxic, anoxic, and transitional (redoxcline) waters. Epsilon-proteobacteria, Crenarchaeota, and Euryarchaeota were more prevalent in the redoxclines, where previous studies reported high rates of chemoautotrophic production relative to those in waters above and below the redoxclines. Relative abundances of Archaea in both systems varied between 1% and 28% of total prokaryotes, depending on depth. The prokaryotic community composition varied between the two anoxic basins, consistent with distinct geochemical and physical conditions. In the Black Sea, the relative contributions of group I Crenarchaeota (median, 5.5%) to prokaryotic communities were significantly higher (P < 0.001; n = 20) than those of group II Euryarchaeota (median, 2.9%). In contrast, their proportions were nearly equivalent in the Cariaco Basin. Beta-proteobacteria were unexpectedly common throughout the Cariaco Basin's water column, accounting for an average of 47% of 4′,6′-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)-stained cells. This group was below the detection limit (<1%) in the Black Sea samples. Compositional differences between basins may reflect temporal variability in microbial populations and/or systematic differences in environmental conditions and the populations for which they select